England could play Qatar friendly after FA deal

An artist’s impression of one of the stadiums to be built for the 2022 World Cup

England could play a friendly against Qatar after the Football Association signed a partnership agreement with the 2022 World Cup hosts.

FA chairman Greg Clarke signed the “knowledge-sharing” deal with the Qatar FA in Doha on Wednesday.

In 2015, his predecessor Greg Dyke said awarding Qatar the World Cup was “the worst moment in Fifa’s history”.

But Clarke said: “We have a long history of collaboration with various national associations.”

He added: “For Qatar, developing the game across the country is a key objective as they approach the hosting of the World Cup in 2022.”

The agreement will see the countries share ideas on football development, grassroots football, youth development, women’s football, player performance and management and administration.

The FA also confirmed that the countries would “look at the possibility of organising friendly matches across the different age groups”.

Analysis

BBC sports editor Dan Roan

How times change. In 2015, Dyke demanded Qatar be stripped of the right to host the World Cup if corruption allegations – some of which are still being investigated by US and Swiss authorities – were proven. Today, in what appears a dramatic U-turn, his successor hailed the 2022 World Cup as “exciting”.

For the FA, this makes strategic sense. It is on a global charm offensive ahead of a potential bid for the 2030 World Cup. And it also fits in with the government’s push to strengthen ties with a country that has invested billions of pounds in the UK, ahead of the post-Brexit era.

However, some will be concerned that by forging closer links with a country still under intense scrutiny over its treatment of migrant workers, the FA may have once again put football politics over principles.